Availability of financing to agriculture sector proposed

Punjab Agribusiness Conference 2004, which was concluded here on Tuesday has called for taking effective steps for bringing improvement in all the allied sectors of agriculture. Conference Organising Committee Chairman Mian Muhammad Mansha presented recommendations adopted in the moot in the concluding session of the conference here on Tuesday. Mansha said Pakistan's economy had started performing well with GDP growth now over six percent.
He further said the economy was still in an expansive mode and nearly all the macro indicators were further fuelling the momentum. At the same time, the painful fact was agriculture - one of the main economic drivers - had not been faring well for quite sometime. Unlike other sectors, its growth had remained below target. He said that sector was still largely untapped and there existed potential for both local and international investors.
Talking about the production of certified high quality seeds, he said the participants of the conference felt the agri sector offers a lot in hybrid seed production and to facilitate the industry, legislation be made. At the same time, national biotech agenda should be announced and implemented.
The conference recommended the revamping of food laws and increased focus on research and development. Standardisation of food was an important factor, hence laws should be devised and their implementation should be ensured.
The Conference suggested that farms should be the centre of storage. It proposed availability of financing to the sector.
The Conference urged the need for taking livestock farming as a business with special emphasis on the promotion of commercial dairy farming. It also stressed that seepage should be plugged in the distribution network. It was also recommended that the government should construct more reservoirs, improve water delivery and save management losses.
On dairy farming, it was recommended that regulatory measures be taken to ensure quality milk was sold to the consumers.
The Conference also recommended the farmers must be educated about WTO implications to the agriculture sector.
It was also proposed non-fund-lending facility should be extended to the farmers, and the banks should provide financing in long-term agri-business projects.